Movable bath mat bar for towel bar or bracket mount

ABSTRACT

A moveable bath mat bar adapted for use onto an existing stationary towel bar, or onto accompanying mounting brackets. The mounting brackets are of a low profile design to substantially prevent personal contact and injury. The bath mat or towel bar may be used either inside a shower or bathtub enclosure using the accompanying brackets, or moveable to outside a shower or bathtub enclosure for use on an existing towel bar.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a movable bath mat bar, which may be used in most any household bathroom or shower. More specifically this invention relates to a portable removable bath mat bar easily attachable to and removable from either an existing stationary towel bar, or accompanying mounting brackets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that various types of adaptable towel racks can be used with standard towel bars commonly found in bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, and so forth. Applicant is aware of patents regarding such adaptable towel racks such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,024,892 titled “Towel Rack” issued to Soper on Dec. 17, 1935. Soper discloses a towel bar attachment rack with a plurality of bars for use on an existing towel bar.

Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,448 titled “Bathroom Bracket Free of Installation” issued to Hang on Jun. 12, 2001. Hang discloses a towel bar attachment rack with a plurality of bars for use on an existing towel bar. This device includes folding arms and rubber feet to prevent wall damage.

Few if any of the previous known devices consider that the rack or bar can cause injury by a person coming into contact with the bar, and for this reason most towel bars within a shower or tub enclosure are usually found on shower doors as low profile handles, though it is foreseeable that there are times when a towel or bath mat bar would be desired inside a shower or bathtub enclosure.

Generally, the prior art are for use outside a shower or bathtub enclosure only. Although these prior devices function adequately to support towels or other objects for drying, their restrictions have made their widespread use less practical.

SUMMARY

The present invention serves to provide the user with more choices of placement of the movable bath mat, or towel bar for use either inside a shower or bathtub enclosure using the accompanying brackets, or moveable to outside a shower or bathtub enclosure for use on an existing towel bar.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a low profile mounting bracket that minimizes the chance of personal contact and personal injury.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an elongate crossbar section having a length slightly less than the width of an average conventional towel bar and is positioned in use parallel to an existing towel bar by means of two hook shaped arms. On their lower sections, these hook shaped arms include an expanded area for harmless contact with the wall. As well the invention includes a pair of low profile mounting brackets to give the user choices in mounting the movable bath mat bar, depending on where the movable bar is most efficiently placed for the intended periodic use. For instance if the removable bath mat bar is used in a shower stall the movable bath mat bar brackets can be mounted onto any wall, thereby making better use of available space and also to allow positioning of the movable bath mat bar out of the way when the shower or bathtub enclosure is in use.

The movable bath mat bar comprises at least one lineal crossbar with two hook shaped arms on the ends, affixed at a substantially 90 degree angle. Each hook shaped arm has a top and bottom section, where on the end of each top section, opposite the crossbar, there is a small L-shaped segment that coincides with a connection slot within each of a pair of low profile wall mounting brackets. On the bottom, elongated section of each of the hook shaped arms, there are wall contact areas, at a point low enough so as to provide substantial support and appropriate weight transfer to the contact area of a wall. This area for contact includes a pad, where this pad is of a size and material composition so as to reduce the chance of causing an indentation in the wall when in use. In between each top and bottom section of the hook shaped arms, there is a slot, or hook that accepts an existing towel bar therein, for use when hanging the bath mat bar on an existing towel bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment and accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein;

FIG. 1 is, in front perspective view, the preferred embodiment of the invention showing the bath mat bar mounted on an existing towel bar that is mounted onto a wall.

FIG. 2 is, in front elevation view, the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the bath mat bar mounted onto accompanying brackets.

FIG. 3 is, in top view, the preferred embodiment of the invention showing the bath mat bar mounted onto accompanying brackets.

FIG. 4 is, in left side end elevation view, the preferred embodiment of the invention showing the bath mat bar mounted onto accompanying brackets.

FIG. 5 is, in right side end elevation view, the preferred embodiment of the invention showing the bath mat bar without accompanying brackets.

FIG. 6 a is, in front elevation view, the left side-accompanying bracket of the present invention.

FIG. 6 b is, in end elevation view, the left side-accompanying bracket of the present invention.

FIG. 6 c is, in top view, the left side-accompanying bracket of the present: invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a moveable bath mat bar generally referred to as 10 as seen in FIG. 1 shown in a perspective view, where 12 is a cross-bar, and 14 is the left side hook shaped arm, and 16 is the right side hook shaped arm.

-   -   Hook shaped arms 14 and 16 have a top and bottom section, where         on the end of each top section, opposite the cross-bar 12, there         is a small L-shaped segment 14 a and 16 a, which coincide with a         connection slot 18 a and 20 a within each of a pair of low         profile wall mounting brackets 18 and 20 as best seen in FIG. 6         a, FIG. 6 b and FIG. 6 c.

On the bottom section of each of the hook shaped arms 14 and 16 there is an elongated portion 14 b and 16 b, which contact the wall 22. This contact area includes a pad 14 c and 16 c. In between each top and bottom section of arms 14 and 16, there is a slot 14 d and 16 d, that accepts an existing towel bar 24.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. 

1. A bath mat bar adapted for use with an existing stationary wall mounted, horizontally extending towel bar, and a pair of accompanying wall-mounting brackets, comprising: a. At least one elongate bar positioned outwardly of said towel bar and retained substantially parallel to said towel bar, said elongate bar located at a horizontal elevation at or below that of said towel bar; b. A pair of spaced arms connected to both outward ends of said elongate bar, said spaced arms including a slotted section, engage-able with said towel bar; c. A wall engaging portion included as a lower part of each said arm, said wall engaging portion being positioned substantially perpendicular to said wall; d. A section included as part of each said arm, a connecting segment positioned at top extremity of each said arm, for engaging with said accompanying wall mounting brackets; and e. Said accompanying wall-mounting brackets having a shaped such to accept said connecting segments of said bath mat bar.
 2. A bath mat bar of claim 1, where said connecting segment on said arms have L-shaped reversely bent portions.
 3. A bath mat bar of claim 1, where said bath mat bar wall mounting brackets have and L-shaped slot to accept said reversely bent potions.
 4. A bath mat bar of claim 1, where said bath mat bar wall mounting brackets and said L-shaped slots are tapered to provide a seat for said reversely bent portions. 